NHER 42279 (Monument record) - World War Two air raid shelters, a possible structure and a bomb crater on Duke Road and School Lane, Gorleston on Sea

January 2006. Norfolk NMP.
A group of World War Two air raid shelters, a possible concrete structure and a bomb crater are visible on aerial photographs within the rear gardens of Duke Road and School Lane, Gorleston (S1) and (S2). The site is centred on TG 5259 0465. The air raid shelters, most of which are likely to be Andersons, would have for the use of the family living in the property. At TG 5260 0463 is a large roughly circular pit, 12m across (S2). It is assumed that this is a bomb crater, dating to after February 1941, as it is not visible on aerial photographs of that date (S1).

A group of air raid shelters are located at TG 5260 0465, visible as earth covered mounds of material and are likely to be Anderson shelters for the local inhabitants. These vary in size from 3m by 2m to 6m by 4m. These are located within the gardens of 'Redgates' and 'St Helens', School Lane. Centred on TG 5257 0464 is another possible World War Two date site, which is only visible on the edge of one of the 1941 vertical images and therefore not properly visible in stereo (S1). It is also not visible on later aerial photographs (S2). The feature appears to consist of a light coloured bank or band of material around the edge of the garden of number 3 Duke Road. It is possible that this is relates to some sort of air raid shelter. It might represent one large mound and this overall height may not be visible due to the impaired stereo viewing or the top may be camouflaged. To the immediate north of this is a rectangular structure, measuring 4m by 2.5m (S2). This is not visible on the aerial photographs pre-1945, although it is possible that it was covered or camouflaged prior to this. As stated above the earlier aerial photographic coverage for this site is poor.
S. Massey (NMP), 05 January 2006.